Vital Voices: Investing in the Power of Community-Rooted Reporting

In communities across the country, vital stories are going untold as local newsrooms shrink or disappear, leaving residents without the information they need to stay connected, informed and empowered.

Without reliable local reporting, people turn to social media or other unverified sources — making them more prone to the misinformation and algorithm-fueled echo chambers that have made our communities more distrustful and polarized than ever before.

Communities with weakened local news see lower voter turnout, fewer candidates running for office, and reduced participation in civic life.

And marginalized communities, including those living in low-wealth neighborhoods, rural areas and Tribal communities, are more likely to have their concerns ignored — and less likely to be represented in public decision-making.

Funders, regardless of their grantmaking focus, can play a critical role in rebuilding and reimagining strong local journalism ecosystems.

You will unpack how the state of local news impacts our communities in profound and interconnected ways.

Target Audience

This program is open to funders, including members of Catalyst, Northern California Grantmakers, and Southern California Grantmakers.